US National Volleyball Team Captain Erik Shoji Comes Out!

June 18, 2025
ALEXANDER

US National Volleyball Team Captain Erik Shoji Comes Out!

Just last week, we reported that US Beach Volleyball pro Charlie Siragusa was continuing his queer representation in sports, using his platform to create awareness and to serve as a role model for other athletes afraid to get into sports or to come out. Shortly thereafter, the US National Volleyball team captain, Erik Shoji, took to social media to announce his coming out. If that isn't proof that representation works, we don't know what is! Check out the touching and heartwarming post:

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His post was flooded with supportive comments, led by the IG account for USA Volleyball: “Proud of you, Erik. Your courage, authenticity, and leadership on and off the court continues to inspire us all! Thank you for being you. We’re honored to stand with you, always.”

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Erik has over 1.6 million followers on his social media, so his queer representation has started off with a bang. Erik has a stellar career and is considered to be the world’s best libero (a libero is a player on an indoor volleyball team who serves as a defensive specialist and is not allowed to serve or rotate to the front line). He has been part of the squad since 2013 and is a three-time Olympian.

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He was instrumental in helping the U.S. team win bronze medals at the 2016 and 2024 Olympics and at the 2018 World Championship. Volleyball is in his family; his brother competed with him at the Rio 2016 Games, and his father is the coach of the women's team at the University of Hawaii.

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Erik hails from Honolulu, Hawaii, and attended Stanford University, breaking records for his playing. He's been able to travel the world, joining teams in Germany, Austria, Italy, Russia, and Poland, and just wrapped up a four-year stint with ZAKSA, a professional men's volleyball club in Poland. He has earned more than his fair share of trophies.

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Erik states in his coming out video: “I hope to be a role model. I’m in a position where it’s almost inevitable. And I think the volleyball community has been so open and accepting of so many different types of people, which is amazing to see. I hope they don’t think any differently of me. This is part of who I am, and if they love me before that, they’ll love me after.”